Apr. 24, 1999
QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES-Wild but hard-punching lefty MANNY PACQUIAO(right photo),
111 3/4, kept his WBC flyweight throne, as he dropped the top contender
GABRIEL MIRA, 110 1/2, Mexico, on five occasions and blasted him out at
2:45 of the 4th round in a scheduled 12.
The 20-year-old Filipino, making his first defense, came out fighting very positively from the outset, throwing southpaw jabs and long lefts to have the Mexican retreating in the opening session.
The shorter Mira started fireworks in the 2nd. He landed good combinations to the champ and had him in trouble. The Mexican, 27, kept stalking the champ from pillar to post. Pacquiao, however, exploded a wicked left to the onrushing opponent and floored him for a compulsory eight count in the closing seconds of that session.
The effect of Mira's visit to the deck in the previous round was so heavy that the Mexican was badly rubbery-legged and slipped down to the canvas 4 times in the 3rd. Pacquiao kept attacking the groggy rival and connected with a solid left, sending him to the deck. The Mexican was barely saved by the bell.
The southpaw Filipino furiously swarmed over the fading foe in the 4th. Pacquiao dropped Mira twice with a long left. The game Mexican resumed fighting, but his shaky legs betrayed him as he was decked with the champ's right hook followed by a southpaw left. Referee Richard Steele declared an automatic stoppage upon Mira's third visit to the canvas in this fatal stanza.
Pacquiao, who had captured the crown via upset 8th round KO of Chatchai Dutchboygym in Thailand last Dec., raised his credentials to 26-1, 17 KOs. Despite his lack of finesse Pacquiao is a very aggressive hard-puncher. Mira, who defeated world-rated ex-OPBF champ Yongsoon Chang in Mexico in the previous year, fell to 19-8-1, 15 KOs.
Some 15,000 fans were in attendance at Araneta Coliseum where the historical "Thriller in Manila" took place in 1975.
WBC judges: Tony Perez, Dalby Shirley, both of US, and Jaebon Kim of
Korea.
WBC supervisor: Major Lee Wonbok of Korea.
(4-24-99)